Modulate This! Synth Blogtag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1924002012-10-08T09:30:31-06:00TypePadBBC Interview "Brian Eno on Apps and Albums" with Zebra 2 Cameotag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451cae869e2017c32659d2d970b2012-10-08T09:30:31-06:002012-10-08T09:30:31-06:00I just watched this interesting BBC interview “Brian Eno on Apps and Albums”. I don’t see a way to embed so click here to watch it.. His latest venture is the app Scape, a follow-up to 2008's Bloom app. Scape...Mark Mosher

I just watched this interesting BBC interview “Brian Eno on Apps and Albums”. I don’t see a way to embed so click here to watch it..

His latest venture is the app Scape, a follow-up to 2008's Bloom app. Scape not only contains his most recent 'album' of the same name, but is also a tool allowing people to compose their own music on mobile devices.

He developed it with Peter Chilvers, known for his work creating music for computer games in the 1990s.

The app promises "deep access to the musical elements" that the composers used to make the album itself.

I thought it was pretty cool to see one of my desert island synths Zebra 2 on the monitor behind him :^ ).

First Try at iOS6. Which Musician Apps Work, Which Dont.tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451cae869e2017d3c367c0e970c2012-09-21T08:39:36-06:002012-10-15T17:44:57-06:00I’m between production projects so I thought I’d take a bullet for the community and just upgrade my iPad 3 to iOS6 without knowing if any apps would work – lol. If you are in the middle of a project...Mark Mosher

I’m between production projects so I thought I’d take a bullet for the community and just upgrade my iPad 3 to iOS6 without knowing if any apps would work – lol. If you are in the middle of a project I suggest you wait to upgrade. This is a general rule I follow for all my equipment and software.

I restricted my testing to the following criteria. Will the app start? Will it function in a basic way (GUI works, makes some noise)? I don’t own ever app made so this is just my list of what works and what doesn’t. If you find issues with apps feel free to make a comment – and of course notify the developer so they can upgrade the app for iOS6.

App Crashes After Splash Screen DisplayedUpdate: Both of these apps are now working in iOS6.

PPG WaveGenerator

Akai SynthStation

If you double-click the button on your device you’ll see these apps are running in the background.

App Functions at A Basic Level

TC-11

Alchemy Mobile

CrustalSynthXT

GeoSynth

GrainSicence

iElectribe

iMS-20

iRigMIDI

Lemur

Magellan

Midi Monitor

Moog Animoog

Moog Filtatron

MorphWiz

NanoStudio

Nlog

Orphion

SampleWiz

SoundPrism Pro

Sunrizer

SynthX

TC-11

ThumbJam

TNR-i

Proceed with Caution

Again this is a basic test just to see if apps function at a basic level. I’ll let you know if I bump into more serious issues as I work with the apps on iOS6 in the comments.

Camel Audio Alchemy Mobile Pro = Wireless iPad Controllerism For Alchemy Full Versiontag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451cae869e201676802bb7a970b2012-06-30T10:20:42-06:002012-06-30T10:23:25-06:00I’ve been a fan of Camel Audio Alchemy for some time. If you are an Alchemy user and have an iPad or iPhpne/Touch I’m going to recommend you pick up Alchemy Mobile Pro. Note, you only have to buy the...Mark Mosher

I’ve been a fan of Camel Audio Alchemy for some time. If you are an Alchemy user and have an iPad or iPhpne/Touch I’m going to recommend you pick up Alchemy Mobile Pro. Note, you only have to buy the app and content once to use on both the iPad and iPhone.

Pro allows you so wirelessly integrate your iOS device into you computer workflow. In other words you gain a multi-touch controller for Alchemy full. The 1.27 update allows you to:

Alchemy Mobile v1.1.27 lets you move the remix pad using the new Tilt function to translate your physical hand movements into morphing sound changes, while Inertia lets these moves continue under their own steam while you carry on playing. Other new features include quantise to tighten up the timing of your recordings, as well as unlimited record, bounce and export times, further improvements to the keyboard and menu displays, more control over MIDI input and outputs, and iPad 3 retina display graphics.

The Pro Upgrade now lets you record remix pad movements to capture complex sound changes, bookmark your presets to make favourites easier to find, adds more complex quantise functions including triplets and a new 'Clear MIDI performance and loops' option. Upgrading to Pro is easy once you've installed the free version - just tap on the preset name in the upper left, switch to the Libraries page and select the Pro Upgrade to purchase for $14.99 / €11.99 / £10.49.

How To Connect Alchemy Mobile Wirelessly

STEP 1: On Alchemy on you computer select “FILE” then “Turn On iPad/iPhone” Control”

STEP 2: On the iOS device click the Sound Library name. Scroll down to “Alchemy on..”. You’ll see you computer there. Click the item and now your synced.

At this point the iOS synth is disabled and the surface controls Alchemy full on you computer including patch browsing. Brilliant!

Not a “Shinny Object”

A lot of iOS music apps are like “shinny objects” to me. They are fun but don’t end up in my workflow. Alchemy mobile is exception to this. Nicely done Camel Audio!

Experimenting with Patch Sharing with Crystal VST Desktop and iPhone/IPadtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451cae869e20147e0f14486970b2010-12-22T13:33:03-07:002010-12-22T13:33:03-07:00I was quite excited to see that Crystal XT was released for iPhone/iPad, mainly because the mobile version shares synth architecture allowing you to program patches on the desktop then move patches to the mobile edition. I think this is...Mark Mosher

I was quite excited to see that Crystal XT was released for iPhone/iPad, mainly because the mobile version shares synth architecture allowing you to program patches on the desktop then move patches to the mobile edition. I think this is the sort of workflow that is going to make me use the iPhone more for music making.

This is just a quick post to let you now I’ve had success with this this. There on instructions on this at the bottom of this page - http://www.greenoak.com/crystal/. It took me a while get this all worked out as I was not that familiar with Crystal’s patch management system when using it within Live.

I’ve got it all worked out now and will do a follow up post with more step-by-step details soon.

Modulate This! - Best of 2009 Electronic Music Techtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83451cae869e201287694e606970c2009-12-31T10:45:57-07:002011-08-20T17:17:29-06:00Despite the economic downturn, 2009 was thankfully a huge year when it came to new technology for electronic music artists. Rather than try and cover every significant release, I’ll instead list some of my favorite products and notable trends. The...Mark Mosher

Despite the economic downturn, 2009 was thankfully a huge year when it came to new technology for electronic music artists. Rather than try and cover every significant release, I’ll instead list some of my favorite products and notable trends.

The Year of AbletonWhat a big year for Ableton. Live 8 with great new features set, Max for Live, 10th Anniversary of Ableton, launch of Live Intro, dedicated hardware controllers (APC40 & Launchpad). Awesome!

Grid (Matrix) Controllers

Grid controllers everywhere in 2009. New controllers like the APC40, Launchpad and Bliptronics 5000. Continued development with existing controllers like Tenori-On and Monome. The grid metaphor also became quite prevalent in apps as well. I have the APC40 and Tenori-On and simply love them.

Percussa Audio Cubes “Tangible Interface”

Not new in 2009 but new to me, Percussa AudioCubes are self-powered wireless computer systems. Cubes can detect and interact with each other and can detect the proximity of your hand near a cube face sensor and send this controller information to your DAW or to various free software apps provided by Percussa. I working with a 4 cube configuration within Ableton Live.

Fantastic Synths A great year for virtual instruments. Below is a list of new and updates synths that I used over and over again in 2009 for both sound design and for music performance.

u-he ACE (Any Cable Anywhere) This synth just released by I use it all the time now! It’s a fantastic virtual analog synth with a great UI with patch cables. Sounds like butta’.

DCAM Synth SquadBrilliant work by FXPansion to re-create analog synthesis by modeling at the circuit level and wrap the instruments with a modern modulation routing system. The end result was a bundle with three synths and an instrument rack with effects.

Image Line HarmlessHarmless by Image-Line is another brand new synth that released in December. Is and an additive synthesizer that you program via a “subtractive” metaphore. It sounds great and is one of the easiest ways to program additive that I’ve used. I’m finding it quite addictive to program.

SonicCharge SynplantI was late to the Synplant party and only started using it in 2009. Best described by SonicCharge - “Instead of creating patches the conventional way by turning dials and knobs, Synplant lets you explore a world of organic sounds by planting seeds that grow into synth patches.” Great when you are looking for something unique in your mix.

Camel Audio Alchemy (Upgrade) Alchemy release at the very end of 2008 and made my best of list last year as well. There was an update that improved performance and added new sounds. This synth was a go to synth for me in 2009 as it’s a powerhouse for mutliple types of synthesis including sample-based work.

Twitter Obviously not a music product, however, Twitter has been a fantastic tool for discovering new electronic music tech. More importantly Twitter has allowed me to meet and actually get to know other artists and electronic music bloggers and educators. Twitter has also been a great microblogging platform for sharing links and brief insights. I post fairly often so if you haven't done so follow me over at http://www.twitter.com/markmosher.

Here is to 2010! 2009 was such a great year for electronic music tech. Here is to an even bigger 2010!

Get the Scoop on the New Nano, iPod Touch, and iTunes 8tag:typepad.com,2003:post-553932762008-09-09T20:27:49-06:002008-09-09T20:27:49-06:00Apple announced a new iPod Touch, a new line of Nano's called nano-chromatic, and an update to iTunes. I've waded through the online announcement and have created a summary of what's new over on my other blog www.consciousendeavor.net. Mark Mosher...Mark Mosher

Apple announced a new iPod Touch, a new line of Nano's called nano-chromatic, and an update to iTunes. I've waded through the online announcement and have created a summary of what's new over on my other blog www.consciousendeavor.net.